Mr. Justice Fancourt listed more than two dozen names, including the former Daily Mirror editor, without any specific order. The judge also expressed curiosity as to why three or four associates of the Duke of Sussex did not provide evidence in the case against MGN.
In Harry's statement, he explicitly mentions that his friends Chelsea Davey, Guy Pelly, Thomas and Skip Jamie Murray Wells, and Natalie Pinkham were aware of his media surveillance. Therefore, the judge wants to understand why none of these friends testified in support of Harry's claims, especially when Harry himself admitted to lacking concrete proof or specific recollection of the events.
It is not a matter of friends being deemed unworthy of being heard, but rather Harry's friends seemingly choosing not to testify, likely to avoid being implicated as sources of information provided to journalists.
By mentioning these individuals in his court case, Harry further estranged himself from the royal adjacent circle. Harry had reached out to his former friends for assistance since he began writing, but their response, conveyed through the press, indicated that he should avoid causing trouble or they would expose his secrets, including incidents involving a girl in Switzerland or a sky center.
Unable to compel his friends to testify on his behalf, Harry's lawyers had to go to great lengths to keep them out of court to prevent the Mirror Group or ANL from using them as witnesses against Harry.
It appears that Harry's relationships have been strained not only with the royal family but also with his friends. Sources and experts suggest that the Duke of Sussex has alienated many of his friends in the
UK, particularly since his marriage to Megan and his decision to step down as a senior royal in 2020. An insider commented that hardly anyone maintains regular communication with him anymore, and he rarely shows genuine interest in others.
He is seen as completely lost by those around him. Furthermore, one of Prince Harry's former military colleagues revealed to The Telegraph that the forces have no regard for him anymore, which is unfortunate considering his previous popularity within the military community.
